We have come to the end of the ten weeks of blog posts! In my first post, I mentioned that I wanted to form a deeper understanding of social constructs and expand my knowledge of social structures in many different societies. Through this assignment, I have indeed achieved my goal! Let’s have a recap and some personal reflections on everything I managed to cover!

 

I started by writing about something closer to my heart, about India, where I’m ethnically from.  I wrote posts about two aspects of identity, gender and caste, and what unique challenges they pose in environmental issues. I also had a post talking about migration in India and offered an environmental perspective on the migration of Indian workers to Singapore. 

 

The next topic I embarked on was about the Aboriginal people of Australia. To be honest, this topic was quite difficult. To learn about the cultural scene of a group of people I am so disconnected from is not an easy task. I also wanted to ensure that I am getting the most accurate representation of what happens on the ground level, not something prescribed to the rest of the world by those privileged in the society. Although this was the toughest topic to explore, it proved to be the most enriching one!

 

Next up, I discussed American politics as I thought it would be appropriate due to the recent elections. I also wanted to take this as an opportunity to shed light on why conservatives, who are often villainised, think the way that they do. It is also essential to see the flaws of the Democratic side, which some can consider the representative party for climate change. 

 

I tend to keep an optimistic outlook on most things, but sometimes, it’s incredibly demoralising to see how much change is needed to sufficiently address problems currently within our systems. Recently, I watched David Attenborough’s A Life On Our Planet. The documentary seemed rather heartbreaking too, to see how humans have harmed our planet. But Sir Attenborough talks about how it’s not too late to change our ways now. And he says the best way to do so, is to ensure equality and an improvement of livelihoods across all nations. I think the research I’ve done throughout my posts reflects that as well. Many environmental issues are exacerbated by the level of inequality within society. 

 

So what can we do? I think action-wise, wherever possible, we need support initiatives and projects that we stand for. It is vital to make sure our lifestyles reflect our belief, to the best of our ability. At the very least, I think it’s crucial to stay educated and learn about issues, not just within our circles but across the world. We need to reflect on the privileges that we hold and empower issues or changes using them.

 

I hope just as I learnt so much from embarking on this task, you have learnt something as well! I want to end off by thanking everyone who has been a part of this journey. Thank you for your comments! Thank you Dr Coleman, for your guidance as well!

~ Yalini

(Cover Photo: Taken by me!)